Rules changed today: WhatsApp and Telegram will no longer be able to run without a SIM card, and desktop logins will also be affected.

SIM Binding Rules: The central government's SIM binding rules come into effect today, March 1st. WhatsApp, messaging apps like Telegram and Signal will only be able to run with a mobile number whose SIM is active in the phone. This means that the SIM card used to create your WhatsApp account must be in your phone. If you remove, deactivate, or insert the SIM card into another handset, your WhatsApp account will stop working. The government's goal behind this is to prevent cyber fraud and protect users from digital fraud. Keep in mind that WhatsApp will not work if the SIM card is inactive or deactivated, and all WhatsApp and Telegram accounts will only work if the SIM card with the associated number is in the phone used to access the account.

The Ministry of Telecommunications had given a 90-day deadline on November 28th - the deadline ended yesterday.

The Ministry of Telecommunications announced the SIM binding rules on November 28th, giving social media and messaging platform companies 90 days to implement them. The deadline ended yesterday, February 28th. WhatsApp has not yet made an official announcement regarding this, but earlier this week it announced that it had begun testing with India's SIM binding rules.

What will be the impact on desktop logins?

On web and desktop logins, your account will be logged out every six hours and will require a re-login using a QR code.

What will be the impact on you?

The government is trying to curb cyber fraud, cybercriminals, and digital attackers with this measure. This measure is for the benefit of the public and will not cause any harm to them. A few things need to be kept in mind. For example, if the phone doesn't have an active SIM, WhatsApp and Telegram won't work. Removing the SIM and inserting it into another phone will cause WhatsApp to stop working. Removing the SIM may temporarily deactivate WhatsApp, and you'll need to reinsert the SIM into your handset and restart the login process.